Elliotte Friedman: Connor Bedard is not ready to sign with the Blackhawks organization

The Chicago Blackhawks haven't been very active on the free agent market today, suggesting a lot of trust will be put upon the team's young core next season.

All young prospects will have a lot to prove, but as he's about to enter the final year of his entry-level contract, Connor Bedard will have the most pressure to perform and bring results.

Even though another season at the bottom of the rankings wouldn't be the end of the world, especially as it's Jeff Blashill's first behind the bench, fans want to see the franchise win.

Ahead of what could turn out to be a historic season in Chicago, a new development from Elliotte Friedman suggests Connor Bedard could wait before signing his next contract.

According to him, Bedard is listed among players eligible to sign extensions but won't make it happen today, alongside names such as Connor McDavid, Lane Hutson, Jack Eichel, Jason Robertson, and Kyle Connor:

Bedard had an okay season in 2024-25, putting up decent numbers for a 19-year-old on a rebuilding team, but he didn't exactly explode offensively the way some expected and showed defensive flaws. That said, with another year of development, a breakout season could be right around the corner. If that happens, Bedard would find himself in a position to demand significantly more money on his next deal.

However, he might not have much to gain by waiting. The Blackhawks are likely more than willing right now to pay him whatever he wants to ensure he's locked up as the future face of the franchise.